Straupe brings together cultural and historical themes that are clearly distinct: Latvia’s only folding wooden altar, a historic castle complex and the history of the horse post. Traditional skills, agriculture and the landscape near the Brasla add to the picture. When planning, the format of the activities also matters: some tours are available by prior arrangement only.
Church, Castle Complex and Hanseatic History
Straupe Church has Latvia’s only folding wooden altar. The interior also features outstanding Baroque paintings and several significant works of Baroque and Mannerist art. The freestanding bell tower was built in 1848 and stands 100 metres from the church. Straupe’s historic castle complex includes the church and bell tower, as well as the remains of fortifications and defensive ditches. The architecture thus spans sacred art and traces of defence.
Straupe’s Hanseatic history adds an economic perspective to the buildings. Straupe became a member of the Hanseatic League; its strategic location and close ties with neighbouring towns and Riga fostered economic growth. The town’s history can therefore be understood not only through its surviving structures, but also through its links with other towns at the time.
Explorations and Tours by Arrangement
At Lielstraupe Castle, visitors can explore hidden labyrinths and the eerie rooms of an old hospital wing. The focus here is on experiencing particular spaces, unlike the artworks and remains of fortifications in Straupe’s historic castle complex. Those interested in intricate layouts or the unusual history of an old building wing will find a different way to explore the town’s past here.
At Straupe Horse Post, the focus is on tours and the history of the horse post. Tours are paid and available by prior arrangement. Plan your enquiry before visiting; making arrangements is part of this offering.
Agriculture, Market and Landscape
The Eicēni organic farm grows and processes vegetables, herbs and grain. Group tours can be booked by contacting the farm in advance. There is also a self-service shop at the farm by the A3 highway, where summer flower seedlings are available. Growing and processing are the farm’s agricultural focus, while the group tour is for visitors who want to learn more about the farm.
At the Straupes lauku labumu tirdziņš market, traditional skills are demonstrated, including planing and fermenting cabbage. The focus here is on skills passed down through generations. This differs from the organic farm’s focus on growing and processing vegetables, herbs and grain.
The Brasla River valley near Straupe offers a scenic addition. Rust-red sandstone outcrops emerge there as the river valley deepens. This geological feature gives the landscape a different character from the church and castle themes: it draws attention to the shape of the valley and how its deepening reveals the rock outcrops.
Discover more destinations: Auciems, Lielstraupe, Stalbe, Plācis.
View the wider travel guide: Pārgaujas Novads.
